Modular recycler

Abstract

A modular recycling unit comprises a support for supporting a first container. The first container is tiltable between a first position where the interior of the container is accessible and a second position where the interior of the container is inaccessible. The first container is freely removable from the support. A second container is supported on the support such that it is in a stacked relationship relative to the first container. The second container is freely removable from the support.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular recycling unit comprising:
 a support for supporting a first container comprising an interior, the first container being tiltable between a first position where the interior of the first container is accessible and a second position where the interior of the first container is inaccessible, the first container comprising a bottom including a rear portion and an a front portion disposed at an angle relative to the rear portion such that a fulcrum is created between the rear portion and the front portion, the first container tilting on the fulcrum between the first position and the second position, the fulcrum comprising a rounded projection on one of the support and the bottom of the first container that is received in a recess on another one of the bottom of the first container and the support, said first container being freely removable from the support; 
 a second container supported on the support such that the second container is in a stacked relationship relative to the first container, the second container being freely removable from the support; 
 a lid pivotably secured to the second container and rotatable about a pivot axis between a first closed position and a second position where the lid may be completely removed from the second container. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular recycling unit of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a generally horizontally disposed lower base and a stanchion that extends vertically from the lower base. 
     
     
       3. The modular recycling unit of  claim 2  wherein a top surface of the lower base defines a supporting surface for the lower container. 
     
     
       4. The modular recycling unit of  claim 2  wherein the stanchion supports a generally horizontal upper base that is spaced from the lower base a distance that allows the first container to fit between the upper base and the lower base, the upper base supporting the second container. 
     
     
       5. The modular recycling unit of  claim 4  wherein when the first container is in the second position an opening of the first container is disposed beneath the upper base. 
     
     
       6. The modular recycling unit of  claim 1  further comprising a foot pedal for rotating the first container about the fulcrum. 
     
     
       7. The modular recycling unit of  claim 1  wherein the lid is attached to the second container at a releasable hinge. 
     
     
       8. The modular recycling unit of  claim 7  wherein one of the lid and the second container comprises a cylindrical pocket comprising a circular bearing surface having a passage that communicates to the exterior of the pocket and another one of the lid and the second container is formed with a pin mounted for rotational movement in the pocket such that in a first orientation of the pin relative to the pocket the pin may be removed from the pocket. 
     
     
       9. The modular recycling unit of  claim 8  further comprising a second pocket engaged by a second pin. 
     
     
       10. The modular recycling unit of  claim 8  wherein the passage has a gap of a first width and the pin has an oblong shape with a length dimension that is greater than a width dimension and the length dimension is greater than the first width and the width dimension is smaller than the first width. 
     
     
       11. The modular recycling unit of  claim 8  wherein in the first orientation the longitudinal axis of the pin is aligned with the passage. 
     
     
       12. A modular recycling unit comprising:
 a support for supporting a first container comprising an interior, the first container being tiltable between a first position where the interior of the first container is accessible and a second position where the interior of the first container is inaccessible, said first container being freely removable from the support; 
 a second container supported on the support such that it is in a stacked relationship relative to the first container, the second container being freely removable from the support; 
 a lid pivotably secured to the second container and rotatable about a pivot axis between a first closed position and a second position where the lid may be completely removable from the second container; 
 a first movable member that circumscribes approximately one half of the circumference of the first container and that is pivoted at each end to the first container such that the first movable member may rotate between a first position where it is disposed adjacent the opening of the first container and a second position where it extends substantially away from the first container and a second movable member that circumscribes approximately another half of the circumference of the first container and that is pivoted at each end to the container such that it may rotate between a first position where it is disposed adjacent the opening of the first container and a second position where it extends substantially away from the container, the first and second members forming handles in the first position and a bag lock in the second position such that a bag liner may be trapped between the first and second members and the first container when the first and second members are in the second position. 
 
     
     
       13. The modular recycling unit of  claim 12  comprising a third movable member that circumscribes approximately one half of the circumference of the second container and that is pivoted at each end to the second container such that the third movable member may rotate between a first position where it is disposed adjacent the opening of the second container and a second position where it extends substantially away from the second container. 
     
     
       14. The modular recycling unit of  claim 12  wherein the support comprises a generally horizontally disposed lower base and a stanchion that extends vertically from the lower base wherein a top surface of the lower base defines a supporting surface for the lower container and wherein the stanchion supports a generally horizontal upper base that is spaced from the lower base a distance that allows the first container to fit between the upper base and the lower base, the upper base supporting the second container. 
     
     
       15. The modular recycling unit of  claim 14  wherein when the first container is in the second position an opening of the first container is disposed beneath the upper base. 
     
     
       16. The modular recycling unit of  claim 12  wherein the first container comprises a bottom including a rear portion and an a front portion disposed at an angle relative to the rear portion such that a fulcrum is created between the rear portion and the front portion, the first container tilting on the fulcrum between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       17. The modular recycling unit of  claim 16  further comprising a foot pedal for rotating the first container about the fulcrum. 
     
     
       18. A modular recycling unit comprising:
 a support for supporting a first container comprising an interior, the support comprising a generally horizontally disposed lower base and a stanchion that extends vertically from the lower base wherein a top surface of the lower base defines a supporting surface for a second container and wherein the stanchion supports a generally horizontal upper base that is spaced from the lower base a distance that allows the first container to fit between the upper base and the lower base, the upper base supporting the second container, the first container being tiltable between a first position where the interior of the first container is accessible and a second position where the interior of the container is inaccessible, said first container being freely removable from the support; 
 the second container supported on the support such that it is in a stacked relationship relative to the first container, the second container being freely removable from the support; 
 a first movable member that circumscribes approximately one half of the circumference of the first container and that is pivoted at each end to the first container such that the first movable member may rotate between a first position where it is disposed adjacent the opening of the first container and a second position where it extends substantially away from the first container and a second movable member that circumscribes approximately another half of the circumference of the first container and that is pivoted at each end to the container such that it may rotate between a first position where it is disposed adjacent the opening of the first container and a second position where it extends substantially away from the container, the first and second members forming handles in the first position and a bag lock in the second position such that a bag liner may be trapped between the first and second members and the first container when the first and second members are in the second position.